Principles and components of the Declaration of Independence.


Summary

The Declaration of Indepedence was written for the Independence of the colonies from England. Written by the future third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson based his concepts off of those of English philospher John Locke's natural rights to Life, Liberty, and Property. Jefferson's Declaration consisted of the three components, major permise, minor premise, and conclusion, derived from those premises. One of the most important principles of the Declaration would be that all men are created equal. The concepts of Jefferson's Declaration of Indepenence and the United States Constitution by James Monroe, were drafted and also based from the Magna Carta, because of the concepts of LAW as supreme.

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Important Facts~

  • Abraham Lincoln said, in Independence Hall, February 22nd, 1861: "I never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence."
  • Written by Jefferson, the Declaration consited of three components-
    • Major premis
    • Minor premise
    • Conclusion, derived from those premises
  • We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and persuit of Happiness.
external image johnlocke.pngLocke- Natural rights to life liverty and property
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Jefferson- Life, Liberty, and persuit of Happiness

  • "Not only did the Magna Carta become a "springboard" for Jefferson's revolutionary Declaration of Independence, the concepts of LAW as supreme (above even kings or legislative bodies) were drafted into the United States Constitution by James Monroe. The Bill of Rights, and specifically the 5th and 6th Amendments, find their heart and even their verbiage in the words of The Great Charter. Born in England in the 13th Century, the Magna Carta is arguably American as it is British.external image MagnaCarta.jpg




  • 4 sections of the Declaration:
    • The Preamble- the perpose of the document, is to announce independence and to validate the Revolution.external image constitution_preamble_peoplehtml.jpg
    • The second part examplifies a general philosphy of government and a theory of just Revolution.
    • The bill of particulars against the rule of George III
    • The formal proclamation of the legal implications of Independence

References

http://www.renewamerica.com/readings/principles.htm
http://research.history.org/pf/
http://www.suite101.com/content/the-declaration-of-independence-a-fourth-of-july-lesson-a250586
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence

  • The Americans
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  • Encyclopedia of American Studies
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External Links-

http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/birth/1bc1b.html
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/